The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has addressed concerns raised over an allegedly delayed passport application, clarifying that the passport referenced in a recent publication by investigative journalist Fisayo Soyombo has already been produced and is ready for delivery.
In a statement, the NIS said passport applicants have generally enjoyed a processing timeline of between two and three weeks, with millions of passports successfully produced to date. The Service noted that while the process has been largely efficient, delays may occasionally occur due to factors such as incomplete applications, mandatory security checks, or technical glitches, which it described as not uncommon in similar systems globally.
The NIS stressed that the passport application portal has processed numerous applications effectively, with many applicants receiving their passports within the stipulated timeframe. It disclosed that more than 1.3 million passports were produced in 2025 alone.
The Service also highlighted recent reports indicating that Nigeria’s passport has improved its ranking on the Henley Passport Index, describing this as further evidence of the success of ongoing reforms.
According to the NIS, a single case of delay should not be used to assess a reform programme that has received public support and helped restore order to a system previously plagued by challenges.
While welcoming feedback, the Service said such reports provide opportunities for improvement. It announced plans to introduce a new feature on the passport application tracker, tagged “passport produced,” which will notify applicants once their passports are ready for collection.
The statement was signed by the Nigeria Immigration Service.
